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Fantasy Basketball Weekend Must-Starts: Jaime Jaquez Jr. is Heating up

In head-to-head leagues, it all comes down to the weekend. You can have a comfortable lead in multiple categories or by a bunch of points, but if you don’t make the most of the weekend, you can walk out with a loss.

The Pistons, Warriors, Rockets, Pacers, Lakers, Grizzlies, Bucks, Timberwolves, Knicks, 76ers, Kings and Spurs only play once this weekend. In order to maximize your opportunities, avoid those teams if you’re deciding between a few options.

Absolute must-start: Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat

The Heat play faster than anyone else in the league, and with Tyler Herro (ankle) reportedly targeting Nov. 24 for his season debut, Jaquez’s time as a streamer may be coming to a close. However, this weekend should be a fine one. One of Miami’s games is against Chicago (3rd in pace), and the other is against the 76ers, which isn’t as favorable of a matchup. Nobody has played with more pace than the Heat this year, so even against good defenses, they’re still able to put up numbers.

Guards:

Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder

In November, both the Jazz and Trail Blazers rank inside the top five in most points allowed per game. Those are the two teams OKC takes on this weekend. It’s often difficult to know who is going to shine for the Thunder, but Mitchell has been consistent this year. Against two teams that sit below .500, including a rematch against the only team that has beaten OKC this year, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Thunder were on the right side of more lopsided affairs, which shouldn’t take away from Mitchell’s minutes.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks

NAW should be rostered for the rest of the season, but the boost from Trae Young being out has inflated his numbers. Matchups with the Pelicans and Hornets this weekend should help with that as well. Neither team has defended well this month, specifically from beyond the arc. NAW is somehow still available in more than half of Yahoo! leagues. Again, this weekend should be good, but this is also a plea to make sure he’s rostered in your league.

Max Christie, Dallas Mavericks

Both the Pelicans and Grizzlies have struggled to defend the three-point line in November, which is great news for Christie, who has played well as a starter in Dallas for most of the year. Christie leads the Mavs in three-pointers per game this year and is shooting a scorching-hot 46.1 percent from deep. This could also be a good opportunity for Klay Thompson to get on track.

Forwards:

Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls

Chicago has two games this weekend, with home games against the Heat and Wizards, the two teams that allow the most rebounds in the league. The Bulls are third in the league in pace, while the Heat are first and the Wizards are sixth. These should be some fast-paced, high-scoring affairs, which should lead to some gaudy numbers. Buzelis hasn’t broken out the way many were expecting, but he has been productive and should be in for a nice weekend.

RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors

Toronto’s two games this weekend are against the two worst defensive teams in the league: Brooklyn and Washington. The Raptors rely heavily on the starters, and Barrett is the most available member of their opening group in Yahoo! leagues. He likely isn’t sitting on the waiver wire, but ensure he’s in your lineup this weekend, specifically

Cameron Johnson, Denver Nuggets

It was a rough start to the year for Johnson, but his last two games have been encouraging. Now, he has games against the Rockets and Kings. Houston isn’t an easy matchup, but Sacramento has been going through quite the rough patch recently. Ride the hot-hand with Johnson and trust in Nikola Jokic’s ability to feed him good looks.

Centers:

Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans

Like most, I’m on board the Queen hype train. I wasn’t convinced he’d be this good this quickly, and I wasn’t convinced he’d fit next to Zion Williamson. However, the pairing has worked in a limited sample size. Now, New Orleans takes on the Mavericks and Hawks, two of the worst rebounding teams in the league. Expect Queen’s takeover to continue.

Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics

Boston takes on the Nets and Magic this weekend. Brooklyn has been one of the worst rebounding teams in the league this year, and both teams have struggled to defend the paint. Queta is still only rostered in 36 percent of Yahoo! leagues but should be a reliable option as the starting center for the rest of the year. However, this weekend should be an especially productive one.

Ryan Kalkbrenner, Charlotte Hornets

Kalkbrenner has been a productive starting center in his first season in the league, and this weekend, he’ll take on the Clippers and Hawks. LA has allowed the fifth-most second-chance points per game this year, and Kalkbrenner has been effective on the offensive glass. Atlanta allowed the third-most offensive rebounds per game, which makes both matchups ideal for Kalkbrenner. Matching up Ivica Zubac does concern me a bit, but the matchup with Atlanta should make up for it.

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The Hockey News Big Show: Examining The NHL's Playoff Picture At The Quarter Mark

The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss more big topics in the NHL and beyond

Examining The NHL's Playoff Picture At The Quarter Mark by The Big ShowExamining The NHL's Playoff Picture At The Quarter Mark by The Big Show

Here’s what Ryan Kennedy, Katie Gaus and Gary Pearson discussed:

0:45: We’ve reached the quarter mark of the NHL’s regular season, and some of the teams in a playoff position (and out of one) are a big surprise. Which team not in this current playoff picture is the biggest surprise?

4:40: Which series would you love to see actually happen? 

8:15: Stuart Skinner's save percentage is now at .882, among the worst in the NHL. Do the Oilers have a goalie problem or a defense problem? Or both?

12:43: The Winnipeg Jets gave prospect Brad Lambert's representation permission to find a trade partner. Will he ever become a top-six forward? Where would Lambert be a good fit?

16:16: Elliotte Friedman reported the Ottawa Senators are looking to hit a home run on the trade market. In what scenario should Ottawa swing for a home run in a trade?

20:02: Thoughts on Matthew Schaefer being added and his chances of earning a spot on Team Canada?

24:00: Which players on Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off squad should not be on the Olympic team?

28:01: Conversations have started circulating about whether or not Gavin McKenna is the undisputed No. 1 overall pick at this upcoming draft. So, is he?

BetMGM Playbook

33:52: What are you seeing from the Colorado Avalanche that makes them such a powerhouse? 

36:07: Have the Carolina Hurricanes done enough to start to show that they have that potential to make it past the Eastern Conference final?

37:39: Between Florida and Vegas, who do you feel more confident in?

Rapid Fire

39:15: Who should be the three goalies for Canada’s men’s Olympic team? 

40:55: Calgary Flames backup Devin Cooley said this: "You really have to ground yourself... I just go, 'Nothing matters, nobody cares, we're all going to die,' I just say that over and over again." What's the weirdest goalie quote you can think of?

42:32: What will be the best Californian NHL team in three years: Los Angeles, Anaheim or San Jose?

Watch the full episode on YouTube

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

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‘I wouldn’t compare us’: Sindre Walle Egeli, the Ipswich teenager who has outscored Haaland

Record scorer for Norway’s age-group sides discusses his World Cup hope, being frozen out at 15 and fake tickets heartbreak at Anfield

Liverpool against Aston Villa on 18 January 2014. It was impossible to measure the excitement in a seven-year-old from Norway making his first pilgrimage to Anfield. Inside was the promise of watching his favourite player, Daniel Sturridge, and the rest of a freewheeling side throwing everything at a title push. But as Sindre Walle Egeli and his family reached the turnstiles, the cruelest of realities dawned.

“It’s not a good memory,” Walle Egeli says. “We showed up, ready to go, and it turned out we’d got fake tickets. I don’t know what happened, maybe my parents bought from some shady people. It was heartbreaking.”

Continue reading...
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Canadiens: Did Arber Xhekaj Need To Fight?

The Montreal Canadiens had a tough time against the Washington Capitals at the Bell Centre on Thursday night. Not only did they lose the game 8-4, but another player got injured. Just like in last year’s playoffs, Washington’s resident tough guy Tom Wilson found a way to hurt the Habs without scoring a goal.

With the Capitals leading 3-2 in the second frame, Wilson lined up Jake Evans by the boards and landed a big hit on him. After the game, coach Martin St-Louis said he didn’t like the hit and he found it high. Evans only played one shift after taking that blow to the head, and given his concussion history, that is a worry.

Canadiens Coach Is Disappointed About What He Considers A Regression
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Last Saturday, both Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj dropped the gloves early against the Boston Bruins, but on Thursday, neither of them paid a visit to Wilson. That’s the same Wilson who changed the course of the playoff series last season when he obliterated Alex Carrier with a bone-crushing hit.

I’m not a big fan of fighting in the NHL, but the high hit on Evans did look like something that would have warranted retaliation. Why didn’t Xhekaj jump on Wilson to settle the score? I know he wasn’t on the ice at the time, but he could have done so later. It’s something he would have done without any hesitation a couple of seasons ago. Does he lack confidence because he has lost his last couple of fights? Does he fear that taking a penalty could get him out of the lineup? If your tough guy doesn’t know that he can step up in a moment like that, when does he think that he can? Have the Canadiens denatured Xhekaj?

There’s no denying that he plays a more mature game and doesn’t fight as often as he once did, but he is still seen as a protector for his teammates, and he missed a good opportunity to act yesterday. The same could be said of Jayden Struble, who’s competing with Xhekaj for the sixth defenseman role when Kaiden Guhle comes back.

Not only was there no call on the play, but three seconds later, Jacob Chychrun scored the Capitals’ fourth goal of the game. Montreal bounced back nicely with Nick Suzuki scoring 38 seconds later, but the Canadiens still came up short.

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Nearly 50% of NBA Stars Are Injured a Month Into the Season

San Antonio Spurs’ 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama was the biggest story at the start of the NBA season, averaging 26 points, 13 rebounds and nearly four blocks per game. The NBA even flexed a Spurs game into a primetime slot so more fans could see the 21-year-old Frenchman play.

Then he strained his calf, sidelining him for several weeks.

Injuries have been rampant to start the 2025-26 season, picking up right where last year left off. Per certified athletic trainer Jeff Stotts, who maintains a database of NBA injuries, players missed 10% more games last year than in any other season he’s tracked since 2005, aside from the pandemic years. Through four weeks this season, players are missing games at the exact same rate as last season’s record frequency.

Stars, in particular, have struggled to stay on the floor. The NBA defines a star as a player who has made an All-Star or All-NBA team in the past three seasons. Nearly half (21 out of 45) of the league’s stars are currently injured. Others, such as LeBron James and De’Aaron Fox, are healthy now but started the campaign hurt.

Table
Source

Several stars—Jrue Holiday, Ja Morant and Anthony Davis—have suffered from calf injuries just like Wemby. Fourteen different players have already appeared on an official injury report for a calf-related issue, up from six in the first month of 2021-22 and seven in the first month of 2022-23. This is a broader trend—teams logged 64 players with calf injuries at some point during last season, a 68% jump from 38 players three seasons prior.
 
Other soft tissue injuries, such as hamstring strains, are also increasing in frequency. There were 22 hamstring injuries in the first month of this season, up from 15 in the first month of 2021-22.

It’s difficult to isolate a cause for all these injuries, but the speed of the modern game may play a factor. According to ESPN, players are running more miles per game and at a faster average speed than any season since the player-tracking era began in 2013-14. With the proliferation of 3-point shooting across all positions, defenders must cover more ground than ever before. The full-court press has also emerged as a semi-regular defensive strategy.

Line chart
Source

Teams are looking to push the tempo on offense as well. There have been more possessions per game this year than any NBA season since 1986-87.
 
“The wear and tear, the speed, the pace, the mileage is factoring into these injuries,” Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said in a press conference this week.

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Hometown Goalie Called Up To AHL Moose As Milic Joins NHL Jets

The Manitoba Moose announced a pair of goaltending moves on Thursday, as hometown netminder Isaac Poulter has been called up from the Norfolk Admirals to provide depth in the crease, while Thomas Milic was promoted to the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets following an injury to regular starter Connor Hellebuyck.

Hellebuyck is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks while recovering from a minor arthroscopic knee procedure, prompting the Jets to turn to Milic, who had been manning the Moose net. Poulter, 24, will step in to fill the void at the AHL level.

Jets Stunned As Hellebuyck Sidelined, Hot Prospect Could Make NHL DebutJets Stunned As Hellebuyck Sidelined, Hot Prospect Could Make NHL DebutHellebuyck sidelined, creating a golden chance for hot prospect Milic to seize the net and potentially debut Friday.

This season, Poulter has appeared in seven games for Norfolk, posting a 4-3-0 record with a 2.85 goals-against average (GAA) and a .915 save percentage (SV%). The Winnipeg native brings previous AHL experience, having recorded a 16-13-7 record with a 2.86 GAA and .898 SV% in 2024-25 while playing for the Utica Comets.

Across his AHL career, Poulter has appeared in 77 games, compiling a 40-24-11 record, 2.88 GAA, .900 SV%, and five shutouts. He also boasts a 19-11-2 record in 35 ECHL contests split between the Admirals and Adirondack Thunder, with a 2.83 GAA, .912 SV%, and one shutout.

In related roster moves, Moose forward Chase Yoder has been reassigned to the ECHL. Yoder, a former Providence Friar, recorded one point in eight games this season. During his final collegiate season in 2024-25, he notched 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) in 37 games and finished his NCAA career with 62 points (32G, 30A) over a program-record 172 contests. Drafted 170th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2020, Yoder has yet to make his NHL debut.

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Mets are non-tendering reliever Max Kranick

The Mets are non-tendering right-handed reliever Max Kranick ahead of Friday's 6 p.m. deadline, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic.

Kranick was a great story early in 2025, posting a 2.55 ERA in 17.2 innings through the end of April while becoming one of the Mets' most reliable relievers.

But he struggled after that, allowing runs in seven of his next 12 appearances (between May 1 and June 15).

After his outing on June 15, Kranick was diagnosed with a minor flexor strain and was initially shut down for three-to-four weeks. 

However, he underwent Tommy John surgery over the summer and is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season.

In addition to Kranick, the Mets are also non-tendering left-handed reliever Danny Young, who had Tommy John surgery in May.

The Mets have lots of work to do this offseason when it comes to putting the bullpen together.

Aside from A.J. Minter (who exercised his player option for 2026) and Brooks Raley (whose club option for 2026 was picked up on Tuesday) there are no 2025 bullpen members who are a lock to be back. And Minter's start to the season will likely be delayed by a few weeks as he works his way back from the lat surgery that ended his 2025 campaign. 

Trade deadline acquisitions Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto are all free agents.

Members of the Mets' 40-man roster who could be relief options next season include Huascar Brazoban (who is arbitration-eligible), Jonathan Pintaro, and Dylan Ross.

Reed Garrett, who has been a mainstay the last two seasons, is expected to miss the entire 2026 season due to Tommy John surgery.

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From Perfect Fit to Puzzle Piece: Kuzmenko’s LA Decline

Credit © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

SAN JOSE, CA — When the Los Angeles Kings acquired Andrei Kuzmenko at last season’s deadline, he helped transform an offensively barren roster into one of the league’s most dangerous even-strength teams down the stretch and the most lethal power play in the postseason.

But the NHL is an unforgiving ecosystem, and few players have felt that turbulence more than Kuzmenko. In his short time in North America, he has already been cycled through multiple systems, coaches, and lineup roles. What once looked like an instant fit in Los Angeles has quickly shifted into uncertainty.

Last year’s chemistry with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe was undeniable in that 20 game burst, but it has completely evaporated to start 2025–26. After seven points in his first 13 games as a plus three, Kuzmenko’s momentum stalled. His usage cratered with a 7:32 showing in Montreal and a 7:50 game in Pittsburgh, followed by three straight scratches. He has not registered a point in five games and now sits at seven points in 18 games as a minus one.

When Kuzmenko is rolling, he is a surplus scorer who can flirt with 30 goals. When he is not, he becomes a liability for a team that is desperate for middle-six production. That volatility is precisely why the Kings offered only a one-year extension. The risk and reward are written directly into his stat line.

To be a true top six forward in the modern NHL, players must contribute on both sides of the puck. Kuzmenko’s defensive game remains the gap in his profile, much like fellow countryman Ilya Kovalchuk. KHL imports tend to arrive as finished products. This is who he is. The question is whether that “finished product” aligns with a forechecking, pressure driven, board play oriented Kings identity. Right now, it often does not.

To his credit, Kuzmenko had strong moments against a resurgent Sharks team, especially on the power play where his scoring instincts still flash. At five on five, he logged the eighth most minutes among forwards, reflecting that “just outside the mark” tweener status. Not quite top six at even strength, but elevated into that tier through special teams usage. His underlying numbers were respectable with chances even at four to four and shots seven to six against, but not truly impactful.

And that is the story. Kuzmenko is noticeable and polarizing almost entirely because of the power play. If not for an outstanding performance by Yaroslav Askarov, the Kings likely would have converted on one of their man advantages, with Kuzmenko heavily involved. But this league does not reward hypotheticals. Production is king, and this King needs to produce.

His one year, 4.3 million dollar contract looks more and more like a temporary solution. Either he finds his touch again or he becomes a natural trade piece if Los Angeles looks to add another forward. The front office will not hesitate to exchange volatility for reliability.

There is still a useful player inside Kuzmenko. Maybe he becomes a specialty weapon. Maybe a sheltered offensive winger who boosts the power play. But just like any professional looking for the next pay grade, the output must match the price.

So far, it has not. And unless his scoring returns, this may be his final season in Los Angeles.

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Canadiens Defender Ranked Among NHL's Top 2026 UFAs

Mike Matheson (© Bob Frid-Imagn Images)

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson is the team's most notable pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) this season. The 31-year-old defender has been a very important part of the Canadiens' blueline since his arrival, so all eyes will be on him as we continue to move toward the 2026 NHL off-season. 

Due to how well Matheson continues to play for the Canadiens, he has been handed some praise. 

Sportsnet's Luke Fox recently ranked the NHL's top 2026 UFAs, and Matheson was given the No. 4 spot on the list. With this, Matheson ranked ahead of other notable pending UFAs like John Carlson (Washington Capitals), Nick Schmaltz (Utah Mammoth), and Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins).

Matheson has had a strong start to the 2025-26 season, so it is understandable that he is being viewed among the NHL's top pending UFAs right now. In 19 games so far this season with the Canadiens, the left-shot defenseman has recorded three goals, seven assists, 10 points, and a plus-9 rating.

This is after Matheson had 31 points in 80 games with the Canadiens in 2024-25 and recorded 11 goals and set career highs with 51 assists and 62 points in 82 games with Montreal in 2023-24. 

With all of this, Matheson would be a very popular target in free agency if he hits the market. Yet, given how good of a fit he has been on the Canadiens, it would not be surprising if they worked hard to keep him around. 

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Takeaways: Flyers Battle Back for Another OT Win Against Blues

The Philadelphia Flyers returned from a four-day break, back home and playing the St. Louis Blues for the second time in just under a week.

Things didn't get off to an ideal start for the Flyers, but if this group has developed one reliable habit, it’s refusing to let an imperfect start dictate the ending. Down 2–0, the Flyers clawed back—first through Rodrigo Abols, then Tyson Foerster—before Travis Sanheim capped things off in overtime with a shot that sent the building into a collective exhale.

1. A Pattern They Don’t Want, but Know How to Handle

The Flyers admitted postgame that the opening half was not what they envisioned after four full days between games. St. Louis dictated the early pace, attacked the middle of the ice, and built a 2–0 lead in a way that felt uncomfortably familiar—clean entries, net pressure, and the Flyers a half-step behind on retrievals. For a team that spent days drilling intensity and physicality into their practice habits, the first period felt out of sync with the intention.

But here’s the thing about this group: even when the start is rough, the response is never passive.

Once the Flyers got through their early miscues, the second period carried a noticeable shift in tempo. More puck support, more structure, and more engagement in battles along the boards. They started generating zone time—real, layered, sustained zone time—and the game eventually tilted. It wasn’t always clean, and it wasn’t always pretty, but it was incremental progress within the game itself, something they’ve grown surprisingly good at.

Sanheim told media postgame, "It's not the start you wanted. In saying that, you have four days off. It takes a little bit to get your mind and your legs back into. I thought we started to find our game toward the second half."

Nick Seeler echoed the sentiment, calling this result "another resilient win for us," one that they "need to build on and continue to work at those first-period starts."

Rodrigo Abols (18) celebrates scoring against the St. Louis Blues. (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)

2. Dan Vladar Keeps Them in It With Some of His Most Acrobatic Work Yet

The storyline doesn’t work without Dan Vladar, who delivered another sharp performance to keep the Flyers in this game.

Vladar’s best moments came in those scrambles: sprawling back-door stops, lateral slides through traffic, and a couple of saves where the mechanics mattered less than the refusal to concede the goal.

The Blues’ early push could have easily turned 2–0 into something insurmountable. Vladar made sure it didn’t.

3. Travis Sanheim’s OT Winner Caps Another Resilient Night for Him

If Travis Sanheim didn’t want to wait for the committee to decide whether he’s playing like an Olympic-caliber defenseman, he gave his own argument in overtime.

The winner was a product of patience and confidence: Sanheim got the puck, realized how much space he had to go forward, and then finished with conviction. It was calm but assertive—exactly the tone he’s been setting in his game.

His season has been full of these moments: leadership by presence, and a steadiness that lets him punch above his narrative weight. As the Flyers continue to navigate inconsistent portions of their lineup, Sanheim’s reliability (and occasional game-breaking contributions) have become a foundational part of why they stay competitive in tight games.

4. The Flyers Can’t Keep Doing This—But They Also Keep Figuring It Out

No team wants a reputation built around digging out of early holes, especially not after a four-day break intended to reset habits and sharpen attention. 

But the resilience is real. And in overtime, where the Flyers have been unexpectedly comfortable this season, they once again showed the ability to elevate their pace and execution under pressure.

Goals from Rodrigo Abols and Tyson Foerster prove that every single line is ready to fire, and when one guy breaks through, the floodgates seem to open. And against a stubborn, structured Blues team—one they’ve now beaten twice in less than two weeks—they've once again shown that they're building four lines that are always ready for battle.

Another comeback. Another overtime. Another sign that the Flyers have a backbone they can lean on, even when their best hockey takes a period or so to find

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Alex Ovechkin has 33rd hat trick, assist in Montreal romp, moves to No. 10 on points list

MONTREAL — Alex Ovechkin padded his NHL goals record and moved up a couple other big lists in the Washington Capitals’ 8-4 romp over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.

Ovechkin had his 33rd career hat trick to tie Brett Hull for fourth in NHL history and added an assist as he moved past Joe Sakic into 10th on the points list.

“I just try to do my job and try to enjoy the moment and enjoy the time,” Ovechkin said

Ovechkin has 10 goals in 21 games this season to push his NHL-record to 907. The 40-year-old Russian has 1,643 points, two more than Sakic.

Ovechkin opened the scoring on a power play a minute into the first period, firing a wrist shot past goalie Sam Montembeault off a faceoff. Ovechkin assisted on Ethen Frank’s goal two minutes into the second that gave the Capitals the lead for good at 2-1.

The Washington star scored twice late in the third period, the first on a rush with 4:57 to go and the second into an empty net from his own zone with 2:04 remaining. He has scored in four straight games and has seven goals in his last six games.

Linemate Dylan Strome assisted on Ovechkin’s first two goals, the second after learning during the first intermission that wife Tayler had given birth to their third daughter. The couple named the girl Sutton Kimberley.

“Since like first shift, I think Stromer was feeling it,” Ovechkin said. “I think he was unstoppable today.”

Coming off a 7-4 home victory over Edmonton on Wednesday night, Washington has won three in a row to improve to 11-8-2. It was the Capitals’ lone road game in an eight-game span.

Montreal has lost five straight and seven of eight.

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Mets should make strong push to trade for Corey Seager

In what suddenly looms as a tantalizing opportunity for the Mets, Corey Seager apparently can be had in a trade with the Texas Rangers. If so, David Stearns should be first in line to make it happen. 

Yes, Seager is an All-Star shortstop, same as Francisco Lindor. But he could easily slide to third base, where he’d be an above-average defender, and more significantly, give the Mets another elite hitter who could take their offense to a championship level.

If they re-sign Pete Alonso as well, that is. 

Consider the idea of…Lindor, Juan Soto, Alonso, and Seager? Now that’s a Big Four, one to match the firepower of any lineup in baseball, including the big, bad Dodgers.

With such a move, suddenly all the talk about the need to change the Mets’ core could be dismissed, especially with high-ceiling prospects Jett Williams and Carson Benge expected to force their way to the big leagues at some point during the 2026 season. 

In fact, if Williams proves to be the leadoff hitter that scouts project, with his high walk totals and noted plate discipline, he would lengthen the lineup and allow Brandon Nimmo to slot in at the No. 6 spot, or perhaps even lower, where he’d have plenty of value. 

I’d also make the case that with Seager on board, the Mets could live with Tyrone Taylor as their primary center fielder until Benge is ready. 

Likewise, Jeff McNeil could stay at second base as a placeholder for Williams, while Brett Baty could transition to playing first base in partnership with Alonso. After Baty proved more athletic than expected at both third and second base, there’s no reason to think he couldn’t be an above-average first baseman as the Mets ease Alonso into a part-time DH role. 

With all of that in mind, re-signing Alonso and trading for Seager obviously would solve a lot of potential problems for the Mets. 

Aug 4, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) in action during the game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees at Globe Life Field.
Aug 4, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) in action during the game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees at Globe Life Field. / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

They’d still have to upgrade the starting pitching, of course, and re-sign Edwin Diaz as well if they’re serious about winning it all in 2026, but Steve Cohen’s billions and the Mets’ highly-ranked farm system give Stearns plenty of ammunition on that front. 

As for Seager, the lefty hitter who turns 32 in April, he’s only available because the Rangers are trying to shed payroll, according to the Dallas Morning News, and he has six years and $189 million remaining on his contract. 

"That’s the most obvious move to make if they’re under orders to cut payroll," one team executive told me. "I’m sure they wouldn’t want to trade him otherwise. He’s a star player but if Texas needs to get out from under his contract, the price to get him won’t be prohibitive for a team willing to take on all the money."

That might appeal to the Yankees as well, as he could replace Anthony Volpe at shortstop. But if re-signing Cody Bellinger is their top priority, it’s hard to see Hal Steinbrenner also taking on Seager’s contract. 

In any case, the Mets should seize the opportunity here, presuming they’re not one of the eight teams on Seager’s no-trade list. And since the Dallas Morning News reported that neither the Yankees nor the Boston Red Sox were on that list, the Mets wouldn’t figure to be, either (although the Atlanta Braves are reportedly on the list, so it remains to be seen).

Seager has consistently put up big offensive numbers and he’s a two-time World Series MVP, with the Dodgers in 2020 and the Rangers in 2023, which says something about his ability to deliver on the big stage. 

The one knock on him is he has missed considerable time due to injury in recent years. Last season, Seager played only 102 games, missing a few weeks due to a hamstring pull and then all of September due to an emergency appendectomy.

Still, he’s worth the gamble because, as a high-average hitter with power, Seager could be the ideal bat to add consistency to a Mets’ offense that has been maddeningly inconsistent in recent years. 

His career slash line of .289/.362/.509/.871 reflects that consistency, and last season his .860 OPS was the highest among all shortstops, though he didn’t have enough at-bats to qualify for official stats. His 151 OPS+ number was among the best in baseball. 

Aug 2, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) waits for a pitch against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park.
Aug 2, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) waits for a pitch against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. / Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Seager’s underlying numbers have been consistently elite as well. Last year, according to Baseball Savant, he ranked in the 90th percentile or higher among all major league hitters in hard-hit percentage, average exit velocity, and expected batting average, on-base, and slugging.

“He puts up superstar numbers,” one scout said. “He probably wouldn’t be thrilled at the idea of changing positions if the Mets were to get him, but they could make the case that playing third would be a little easier on his legs, which could matter for a guy who has had his share of injuries. And he’s probably going to have to move to third at some point anyway as he gets deeper into his 30s.

“He’d be a finishing piece for the Mets. You add Seager to what they already have, assuming they work out a deal with Alonso, and that lineup would be a nightmare for pitchers.”

What would it take to get him? If the Rangers do need to trade Seager for financial reasons, the Mets probably could put together a package without including the likes of Williams, Benge, Brandon Sproat, or Jonah Tong.

“They have enough depth in their farm system to give them that kind of leverage,” the scout said.

And that’s significant because they might well need to move a couple of those top-of-the-system prospects for starting pitching, whether it’s the dream trade for Tarik Skubal or a deal for the likes of Joe Ryan, Freddy Peralta, or Sandy Alcantara.

After all, acquiring front-of-the-rotation pitching has to be the priority of the Mets’ offseason. But they have the resources and the need to take advantage of other opportunities as well, which is why they should make every effort to go get Seager.